18 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



South Haven, March 23, 1891. 

 To the President and members of the State Horticultural Society : 



Gentlemen — Being unable to attend your spring meeting, I herewith, at the request of 

 Hon. C. J. Monroe, append a few thoughts in reference to our position, as pomologists 

 at the coming Columbian Exposition at Chicago. 



1. As Wisconsin is likely to appropriate $250,000, Montana §100,000, Minnesota $100- 

 000 and Oregon and Washington each $100,000, Michigan should, in justice to herself, 

 appropriate at least $175,000. Of this amount, the pomological department, because of 

 the great fruitgrowing interest in our state, should be entitled to $20,000, to enable this 

 branch of our industry to make a display of fruit creditable to Michigan. 



2. Committees in the different branches of pomology should be appointed, with the 

 utmost care, selecting practical men of sound judgment from the locations particularly 

 devoted to horticultural pursuits. 



3. A committee of, say five, should in my opinion be appointed, whose duty it should 

 be to see to the arrangement of the pomological hall at our state department at 

 Chicago. 



4. In reference to committees I would recommend one on small fruit, one on apples, 

 one on peaches, one on pears, and one on trees. By "trees" I wish to be understood 

 as meaning a display of fruit trees in bearing. This can be accomplished by digging 

 up young trees, two or three years old this spring, and planting them in strong boxes, 

 which boxes can be moved to Chicago in 1893. With a little judicious management, 

 known by practical fruitgrowers, these trees can be brought into bearing the third 

 season from the present one. 



5. Pomologists should be encouraged to propagate small fruits in boxes easy of trans- 

 portation, such fruits to consist of all varieties grown in our state, from early straw- 

 berries to late grapes, inclusive, and these small fruits should be arranged and grown 

 in the most graceful and artistic manner. 



6. The West Michigan Fruitgrowers society will carefully co-operate with you in an 

 endeavor to make a display of fruit at Chicago creditable to our state. 



Respectfully, 



Joseph Lannin. 



Mr. Moneoe: We should show everything in miniature. Some countries 

 mean to show their entire topography ; others will show their manufactures, 

 their mercantile places — Venice in miniature will be at the water's edge, 

 and Mexico will reproduce one of the Aztec cities. We should do our part 

 as thoroughly. Prepare, the previous year, all the green fruits that can be 

 kept over, and the dried and preserved, so as to begin in spring, and then 

 make a continuous show of everything in the order of ripening, and, as 

 Mr. Lyon and Mr. Lannin propose, the trees both in bearing and before 

 bearing. As to the amount of money necessary to properly accomplish 

 all this, the sum Mr. Lannin proposes is larger than I had thought of, but, 

 after all, it is no more than we could advantageously use for the whole 

 state exhibit. Michigan people are to see the exposition cheaply, and we 

 shall get our exhibits there cheaper than most states can, and the pride 

 we feel in having one of our own citizens at the head of what will be the 

 greatest fair the world ever saw? should make it of the more interest to us. 

 If prevailing ideas are to be carried out, thirty days spent there intelli- 

 gently would give better return of information than $3,000 spent in travel. 

 No state will be represented in so many departments as Michigan. The 

 share asked for horticulture is not too great, because our department will 

 be of as great interest and value as any, to the whole people of the state, 

 and with less chance of financial benefit to ourselves. 



